Horse buying guide

Contacting the private seller or trader with horses for sale

Before purchasing a horse or pony you need to think carefully of any requirements. Along with ensuring that
you can easily afford financially the food, stabling and veterinary bills for treatment and care should it arise.
Looking after a horse or pony is very rewarding, but can also be very time consuming and it’s important you
have the available leisure time for this commitment.

Please note the information below is intended for guidance only to ensure you are
not mis-sold a horse or pony listed on this website:

1) When contacting the seller it’s wise to ask their address details and conduct some background research to
check that their location information is genuine.

2) If they are a listed trader ask for references of people who have previously purchased horses or ponies in
the past and contact them directly asking for feedback.

3) Their are many honest genuine trade and private sellers on the site however if an offers seems to good to
be true treat it with suspicion. Especially if the seller appears evasive or pushy, make sure you conduct some
research. Create a check list before viewing a horse, if it’s your first time purchasing a horse ask your equine
friends for help. Ensure you create a full comprehensive checklis to make sure all important questions are
asked during or before visiting the seller. Always request pictures and videos before viewing. Depending on
what kind of discipline when purchasing a horse, always ask for the horse’s show name, BSJA number and BE
number, then you can check the horse records.

4) It can be costly, however we strongly recommend requesting an impartial equine vet to be present during
the sale they can medically assess the animal. Then advise you professionally prior to any sale transaction
taking place. If you want to insure your horse most insurance companies ask for 2 or 5 stages of vetting for
purchases over £ 5000, with most insurers requesting a 5 stages vetting for purchases over £ 10000 and
they will usually request X-rays too. If you purchase a horse in your own local area ask your own vet to do
the vetting, if its far away do some research and ask equine friends if they can recommend a vet. REMEMBER
NEVER USE THE SELLERS OWN VET!

5) Make sure you don’t forget to purchase a suitable horse or pony insurance policy to be immediately
activated on completion of the sale. A good comprehensive policy can help in avoiding any nasty surprises
with expensive veterinary costs.

6) Before viewing an horse or pony contact the seller and ask them to produce documentation including
proof of ownership along with any official pedigree ancestry paperwork if applicable. It’s also wise to ask
them for any veterinary treatment records, so you can make an informed judgement on the current health of
the animal.

7) If you have never owned an horse before speak to a local stable and assess the costs for feeding, cleaning
and looking after the horse or pony. Speak with owners to gain their knowledge and experience.

8) Before choosing a horse or pony assess who will be riding the animal to determine the average height that
you require. This can especially important if multiple riders are planning to ride the horse or pony.

9) Think carefully on what disciplines you require when choosing a horse or pony. Alternatively if you are
unsure you may wish to buy an All-rounder.

10) If you are a novice rider ask the seller if the horse or pony is fully trained. Before transferring any money
during the sale, ride the horse or pony to ensure you are comfortable. If you are a novice rider, take a more
experienced rider with you when viewing the horse, so he/she can ride the horse too. Request videos of the
horse working, and pass them on to your instructor to have a look at. It can also be a good idea to ask your
instructor to attend the viewing if possible for their professional impartial opinion.

11) Usually all horses or ponies are registered and it’s possible to trace their history via impartial Equestrian
organisations who keep records. It’s always worth spending time to check any facts or documents provided
by the seller correspond to this information.

Remember protecting you from fraudulent sellers is our responsibility. If you incur any suspicious activity
with a sellers behaviour please report it immediately and contact Customer Services.

EquusBook recognises and respects the privacy of our customers. Your privacy is important to the EquusBook and we are committed to respecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal data. By visiting the Web Site, you signify your acceptance of the terms of the EquusBook Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Web Site. Please note all text and images on this website are copyrighted to EquusBook and must not be reproduced or used by any 3rd party without the written consent of EquusBook. The website uses cookies to track website statistics with regards to google analytics so we can improve our site visitor experience. We believe the information on this website to be factually correct however we accept no responsibility for incorrect information. The company reserve the rights to change or withdraw any of the statements on the site at any time without prior announcement. Any fraudulent usage of our website or replication of brands will be reported to law enforcement officers with regards to proceeding with legal prosecution.Any negative comments of the company 'EquusBook' or 'EquusBook®" featured on 3rd party websites or published on any social media platforms globally will also lead to criminal prosecution. With regards to all product ranges in the EquusBook Marketplace you must contact the seller directly for instructions or information if required before using them, EquusBook accept no responsibility of misuse. The EquusBook® brand has been trademarked globally and is the intellectual property of EquusBook United Kingdom. Please note any company or person who infringes any rules set out in the code of conduct summary will be legally prosecuted and immediately removed from the EquusBook website permanently.